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354 MEMOIKS OP RACHEL.

at. But the committee was accustomed to the exactions of
this despotic queen; they knew, moreover, that their own de-
liberation was a mere matter of form. She placed no depend-
ence on the issue if left to their decision : she had more faith
in her influence in higher quarters than with the comrades
whom the grant of her claim would despoil of their earnings
to defray her expenses while idle.

The salary of a societaire amounted to 12,000 francs yearly.
Mademoiselle Kachel received 42,000 francs for nine months,
during which, indeed, she seldom averaged over three of actual
service, and this large sum was allotted her in consideration
of the superiority of her talent and of its favorable influence
on the receipts of the house. This influence, however, could
not be alleged to be exercised during her sojourn in her congk
on the Nile.

The plea of past services was also subject to discussion.
She had undoubtedly done good service to the cause of art, but
that she had, as she asserted, made the fortune of the theatre,
was contradicted by the unanswerable eloquence of figures.
The ten performances given by her in one month produced
some 40,000 francs, but, on the other hand, she entailed num-
berless expenses and disadvantages on the theatre. The ex- •
elusive attention of the public being wholly engrossed by the
great artiste, reacted woefully on the nights she did not play;
every thing ihat was not connected with her was looked upon
with little favor; a natural result of this was the discourage-
ment of every other representative of tragic art; the confu-
sion and dissensions her despotism occasioned in the manage-
ment, her capricious entrees and sorties,- her brother, her sis-
ters, forced on the committee; her lawsuits, her free boxes
and seats, her dressing-room, her costumes, were heavy charges
to be deducted from the benefits, and somewhat counterbal-
anced the receipts her presence brought into the treasury.

Mademoiselle Kachel returned to France at the end of May,
1857.

• On board the steamer, that was bringing her from Egypt
was a missionary bishop, Monseigneur G-uillamum, with
she frequently conversed, Rachel had at all times the
winning manners, and now, to a man of that



	354 MEMOIKS OP RACHEL. at. But the committee was accustomed to the exactions of this despotic queen; they knew, moreover, that their own de- liberation was a mere matter of form. She placed no depend- ence on the issue if left to their decision : she had more faith in her influence in higher quarters than with the comrades whom the grant of her claim would despoil of their earnings to defray her expenses while idle. The salary of a societaire amounted to 12,000 francs yearly. Mademoiselle Kachel received 42,000 francs for nine months, during which, indeed, she seldom averaged over three of actual service, and this large sum was allotted her in consideration of the superiority of her talent and of its favorable influence on the receipts of the house. This influence, however, could not be alleged to be exercised during her sojourn in her congk on the Nile. The plea of past services was also subject to discussion. She had undoubtedly done good service to the cause of art, but that she had, as she asserted, made the fortune of the theatre, was contradicted by the unanswerable eloquence of figures. The ten performances given by her in one month produced some 40,000 francs, but, on the other hand, she entailed num- berless expenses and disadvantages on the theatre. The ex- • elusive attention of the public being wholly engrossed by the great artiste, reacted woefully on the nights she did not play; every thing ihat was not connected with her was looked upon with little favor; a natural result of this was the discourage- ment of every other representative of tragic art; the confu- sion and dissensions her despotism occasioned in the manage- ment, her capricious entrees and sorties,- her brother, her sis- ters, forced on the committee; her lawsuits, her free boxes and seats, her dressing-room, her costumes, were heavy charges to be deducted from the benefits, and somewhat counterbal- anced the receipts her presence brought into the treasury. Mademoiselle Kachel returned to France at the end of May, 1857. • On board the steamer, that was bringing her from Egypt was a missionary bishop, Monseigneur G-uillamum, with she frequently conversed, Rachel had at all times the winning manners, and now, to a man of that